Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17755, Joshua Elkins, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
46
Elkins, Joshua Martha
W 17755 B.L. # 36639-160-55
CONTENTS

3938 North Carolina
Rep?
Martha Elkins
widow of Joshua Elkins
N.C. who died on the 22 d June 1821 of Chatham Co. in the State of N. Carolina who was a Private Corp d in the company commanded by Captain Doherty of the regt. commanded by _____ in the 6 th Regt. Continental line for 6 months, Private 12 " Corporal
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina at the rate of 64 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th day of October 1843 and sent to Geo. Luther, Maywood, Chatham Co. N.C.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1843 $ 800 : 00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4th Mar. '44 32 : 00
$ 832 : 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 }
Recorded by D Brown, Clerk, Book C. Vol. 1, Page 182.
221766

221. 768
Act March 3. Nov. 7. /15
Martha Elkins, mid. Joshua Elkins, mi. & comp.
36 639 c/p
Revij. war
Revij. Act 1. July 1836. cut 3970.
etc July 36 - 3938
AD: 1600 a/c Aug. 4/82
[Large stylized signature: R. B. G. ...]
Henry C. London Petersboro' N.H.
20
Vol. E. 76. —

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of the 4 th July 1836
State of North Carolina } On this Twenty fourth day of Chatham County } January eighteen hundred and forty Three - personally appeared before the subscriber and acting Clerk of the peace in and for the County aforesaid (She being so aged and infirm as not to be able to travel to Court) Martha Elkins a resident of and in the County of Chatham and State of North Carolina aged eighty six years old who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed the 4 th July 1836 That she is the widow of Joshua Elkins who was a Corporal in Captain Doherty's Company in the 6 th Regiment of the Continental Line That she is informed and believes that her said Husband served in the Continental Line for Three years and three months - That from bad health and becoming unable to perform duty he was discharged upon furlough and obtained a Certificate for his services and returned home in the year seventeen hundred and eighty nine That her said Husband again entered the service in the year seventeen hundred and eighty as a substitute for a three months Tour in the place of Adam Drey in the Militia under Capt Benjamen Blake - and in the same year he again entered the service in the Militia and served a three months Tour for as a substitute for William Elkins and marched to South Carolina under Captain John Gladly That in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one he again entered the service as a substitute for a three months Tour and served it out for eleven days and served under Capt William McCallum and was in the Battle at Camden Creek or Lindley's Mills. That he was then drafted and served three months in South Carolina under Captain Lane in General Greene's army as well as can now recollect That she has no documentary evidence to establish these facts and must rely upon such proof as she may be able to make in support of her claim - She further declared that she was married to the said Joshua Elkins on the thirtieth day of June seventeen hundred and eighty in the year seventeen hundred and eighty That her husband the aforesaid Joshua Elkins Died on the Twenty second day of June eighteen hundred and Twenty one And that she has remained a widow since that period as well more fully appear by reference to the proof herewith annexed

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
Geo. Luther Jr
Martha her   mark

221768

State of North Carolina } County of Chatham }
On this 29 day of Sept A D 1855 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid Martha Elkins a resident of Chatham County in the State of North Carolina who being duly sworn ac- cording to law, declares that she is the widow of Joshua Elkins who was a Private and Corporal in the Revolution and that she now receives a pension of Forty Five Dollars per annum under the following Warrant in War Department
Revolutionary War -
I certify that in conformity with the 3 d Section of the law of the United States of the 4 th of July 1836 Martha Elkins of North Carolina widow of Joshua Elkins who was a Private and Corporal in the Revolution is entitled to receive Forty Five Dollars per annum, during the time she may remain unmarried commencing on the 4 th of March 1836 and payable semiannually on the 4 th of March and 4 th of Sept -
Given at the War-Office of the United States this sixteenth day of October in thousand eight hundred and Forty Three
Seal
Examined & } for countersigned }
Sum Poston Secretary of War -
J G Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions No 3978 -

She feels this State that she is now a widow at the date of executing this her declaration and she refers to her former declaration for evidence of her husband's services and her marriage -
She makes this declaration for the purpose of claiming the bounty land to which she may be entitled under act approved March 3 rd 1855. She also declares that she has never received nor applied for bounty land under this or any other act of Congress.
Martha J. Elkins Mark -
Affidavit of Witnesses State of North Carolina } County of Chatham }
On this 29 th day of Sept A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five (1855) Personally appeared before me J. H. Upchurch and J. C. Hawkins residents of the State of North Carolina and County of Chatham who being duly sworn according to law declare that they are personally and well acquainted with Mrs. Martha Elkins who saw her make her mark to the foregoing declaration, that they know her to be the identical person therein represented and that she is now a widow; and they swear they are disinterested witnesses -
J. H. Upchurch J. C. Hawkins

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written; and I certify that I believe the claimant to be the identical person who represents herself to be and that I have no interest in said claim S. Upchurch
State of North Carolina } S. William Chatham County } P Taylor Clerk of the court of Pleas and quarter sessions in and for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that S. Upchurch whose genuine signature appears as above is an acting Magistrate for said county, regu- larly commissioned & sworn & full faith & credit is due all of his official acts as such
In testimony whereof I have here- unto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of office at Pittsborough, County & State aforesaid November 1 st AD 1853-
M c Taylor Clerk

Rev. Luther E. J. Pile'sboro Chatham Co. N. C.

Know all men by these presents that we Joshua Elkins and James Booker are held and firmly bound to Richard Cassells Governor of South Carolina in the sum of Fifty pounds stock for the first payment of which we bind ourselves by these presents signed and sealed with our seals this 3 rd day of June 1779.
The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bounden Joshua Elkins hath this day applied for a license to intermarry with Martha Monrark of Chatham County (Now if the said Elkins shall comply with the act of assembly in such cases made and provided then the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force
Witness John Robertson
Joshua his X Elkins (mark)
James his X Booker (mark)
North Carolina } Chatham County }
I Nathan Atkinson Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid do Certify that the above is a true Copy of the Bonds given by Joshua Elkins for his lawful intermarriage with Martha Monrark. which bonds is on file in my office
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hands and affixed my seal of office this 3 rd July A D 1843. Nathan Atkinson

November 3, 1938
Mrs. Carroll Scarborough 1343 Peacock Avenue Columbus, Georgia
Carroll BA-J/AWF Joshua Elkins W. 17755
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you state that you are trying to secure the Revolutionary War record of your great grandfather of North Carolina, whose surname was Elkins, and whose given name you do not know.
The pension record has been found of a Joshua Elkins who served in the North Carolina troops. His record is given below as found in pension claim, W. 17755, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. If this is not the record in which you are interested, another effort will be made to aid you.
The date and place of birth of Joshua Elkins are not given, nor are the names of his parents stated. His father was living in North Carolina during the Revolution.
Joshua Elkins served as private and corporal in 1777 and 1778, in Captain Doherty's company, in the Sixth North Carolina regiment, length of this service not given. He served in 1780 or 1781, three months in Captain Benjamin Blake's North Carolina company. He served in 1781, three months as substitute for his brother, William Elkins, in Captain John Hadley's company. He served, again, in 1781, three months in Captain William M Culler's(?) company, and was in the battle of Lindley's Mill. He served three months in Captain Lane's company in South Carolina, under General Greene, no dates of this

service given.
The soldier, Joshua Elkins, married in Chatham County, North Carolina, Martha, daughter of Britton or Britain or Breton Womack, of Chatham County, North Carolina. The marriage license was dated June 3, 1779; she stated that they were married June 30, 1780. The date and place of birth of the said Martha are not given, nor was the name of her mother stated; her father was living at the time of her marriage.
Joshua Elkins died June 22, 1821, "killed at his fireside by a clap of thunder".
The widow, Martha Elkins, was allowed pension on her application executed January 24, 1843, at which time she was aged about eighty-six years, and living in Chatham County, North Carolina. She was allowed, also, one hundred sixty acres of bounty land on her application executed September 29, 1855, still a resident of Chatham County, North Carolina.
In 1843 Thomas Hinsley, fifty-five years old a resident of Chatham County, North Carolina, stated that he married a daughter of Joshua Elkins, and wife, Martha, and that he was reared in the same neighborhood; he did not give the name of his wife.
Britain Womack, brother of the widow, Martha Elkins, was seventy-six years old in 1843, then of Moore County, North Carolina.
The papers on file in this claim contain no further discernible data relative to family.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of the widow, Martha Elkins, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Wash-

ington, D. C., and furnish the following data:
Martha Elkins, widow of Joshua Elkins Certificate #3938 Issued October 16, 1843 Rate $64.00 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of July 4, 1836 North Carolina Agency.
If you desire information relative to the location of land referred to herein, you should apply to The Commissioner of the General Land Office, Washington, D. C., and furnish the following data:
Warrant #36639- 160 acres- Act of 1855.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

State of North Carolina } This day Burrell Womack aged Moore County } Seventy six years old personally appears before the Subscriber an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid who after being sworn in due form of Law upon his oath deposeth and saith that his is the Brother of Martha Elkins the present applicant for a pension that she is the identical person she represents herself to be in her declaration the widow of Joshua Elkins - he further saith that he was too young at the commencement of the Revolution to recollect distinctly many particulars about it - he further saith that he recollects that Joshua Elkins set in to work with the deponent's father whether for a share of the crop or slavery ways he does not recollect and that during the summer his Sister and Elkins were married that they lived in the family after their marriage until a house was built on his father's land and they went to live to themselves and he further saith that after they Joshua Elkins and Martha his wife went to live to themselves the depon- -ant went to stay with his sister for company and to give her such assistance as he was then able to do that Joshua Elkins was almost always from home but he cannot now say what was the cause whether he was in the military service for himself or a substitute for anybody else he does not now recollect - and the deponent further saith that one circumstance he does recollect that some years after the war and after the deponent was grown up nearly to man- hood that Joshua Elkins employed the deponent to go to a Mr Thomas Doby to get him Doby to go and collect his money due him for his services as a soldier in the Continental Line the deponent saith that he went to Doby and he readily acceded to his representation and that he took the evidence of the claim or certificate and

Collected the money and paid in Gold Coins the Amount this Opponent does not recollect but he does recollect it was then considered  to be be a large sum of money
The word considered in the will to the last line was included before signing to and signed by  to  the  mark  mark
I certify that Boston mark is a valid witness
John Sheppard
State of North Carolina Moose County of the County of Pender I, Alexander C. Curry clerk for said County do hereby certify that John Sheppard Who tested the foregoing Affidavit on a commission of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid at the time of the date of said Affirmation and the signature thereto purporting to be his is genuine - Intermonies whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 22 nd day of Feb y A.D. 1843 - A. C. Curry C. C. C.

State of North Carolina } This day came Joseph Johnson Chatham County } Before me and made oath that he saw Joshua Perkins in the United States Army with all his equipments of war with him, under General Sumner in the late 1778 Joseph Johnson Sworn to and subscribed before Me this 14 day of Dec r 1819 Francis Drake Esq
State of North Carolina } Chatham County } J. Nathan McMinn Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Francis Drake Esq an acting Justice of the Peace for said County at the time of attesting the foregoing deposition and that the signature thereto purporting to be his is genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Pettiborough this 28 th February A.D 1843 W. Matthews C.C.C

State of North Carolina
Secretary of State's Office
I hereby certify that it appears from the muster-rolls of the Continental line of this State in the revolutionary war, that Joshua Elkins a Corporal in Capt. Doherty's Company of the 6 th Regiment enlisted in the year 1777 for the War and was missing on the 4 th October 1777.
Given under my hand this 28 th day of Dec r 1842.
Wm. Hill

221.768

Pittsboro N o Ga Dec 31 st 1855 Hon O Minot Commissioner.
Sir,
Enclosed you have the declaration of Mrs Martha Elkins widow of Joshua Elkins for Dowerly Land under Act of 3 rd March 1855 - Which when acted upon you will place for- -ward to me -
Very Resp t Yours & S t Serv t Henry H London

5799
Mar 6 1843
Nb
July 4 1836
Hon Matthew Elkins
James P Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Ward Department Washington City
day
with

Chatham County March 1st 1843
Sir I herewith enclose the claim of Martha Atkins for consideration and shall be glad to know the decision of the Department at as early a day as possible Respectfully yours &
Hon
Geo. P. Butler
James P. Edwards } Commission of Pensions
As all communications on the subject to be directed to me at Haysboro' Pa Chatham County

5799
Martha Collins.
N.C.
act 4. July '36.
N.C.p 213 - lope. $17.3.9.
admo
6 mo pri
12. lope.
64 3/4
Geo. Luther Esq Haywood Chatham Co. N.C.

State of North Carolina } This day Francis Drake aged Chatham County } sixty nine years old
Personally appeared before the subscriber an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County - who after being sworn in the form of Law deponeth and saith - That on the four- =th day of December eighteen hundred and nineteen Captain Joseph Johnson appeared before this deponent and was qualified to the annexed Deposition in favour of Sarah A. Elkin claim for sums rendered in the war of the rebellion and this Deponent further saith that he was at that time an acting Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid and he further saith that Joseph Johnson was at that and at all times as long as he resided in the state considered as Creditable a witness as any man in the community where he lived and as far as this deponent knows remained so as long as he lived sworn to and subscribed before me this 23 rd day of February 1843
I certify that Francis Drake is a Creditable Witness
Francis Drake
Goethers J.P.

State of North Carolina } This day I, Abbe Booker aged Ninety Shalom County } three years old personally appeared before the Subscriber an acting Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid - who after being sworn according to Law upon her oath deposeth and saith - That she was acquainted with Lashua Elkins and also his wife from their Infancy That they were her near Neighbors Children - and she further saith That Lashua Elkins was a headstrong Lad so much so that his father could not control him and he took him to this oppon- ent's husband to work some time after the war of the Revolution broke out - That Lashua Elkins Runaway from this opponent's husband and went to Smithfield and enlisted in the army - That Lashua Elkins was under age at that time - That she understood and believes that some time in the fall season of the year that Lashua enlisted his father went to bring him back That she then understood from his father that as soon as he got to the Camp That Lashua gave him the slip and was reported missing - and she further saith That Lashua was gone a considerable time But from the long lapse of time and loss of memory she cannot now say how long he was gone - she further saith that when he Lashua Elkins returned from the service he came to her husband's house the first place where he returned and stated that he had a furlough to come home but for what cause she does not now recollect - she further saith That after remaining in the neighborhood a while he set in to work with Britton Womack a poor neighbor of this opponent's That some time in the early part of the summer he Elkins married his employer's daughter Martha The present applicant for a pension That they were married by John Wilson Gwynn That this oppon- -ent was present and saw them married - and this opponent further saith that after the marriage Britton Womack the father-in-law had them a house built on his land and settled them there where they remained for a number of years - and she further saith That the terms became more troublous and there was frequent calls for men to go into the army That when such a draft was made Lashua Elkins was ready to take any new plan that would give the highest price - That she believes he had nothing when he married But in a few years he had a good stock of horses cattle and hogs all of which she understood and believes he got by serving as a substitute and she further saith That she has no doubt But what

She has known all the men who he served for But she cannot Now them and further she says that sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day February 1843
Phoebe the Booker mark
I certify that Phoebe Booker who has sworn to and subscribed to the foregoing deposition is a credible witness
Geo Luther Esq
State of South Carolina Chatham County
J. Nathan Stedman Clerk of the Court of Pleas and
Quarters sitting for the County aforesaid do hereby Certify that George Luther and Robert Fawcett Esq whose names appear to the attestation of the foregoing Deposition and Declaration were acting Justices of the Peace for said County at the time of attesting the same and that the signatures thereto purporting to be theirs are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Pittsborough this 23 rd February AD 1843
J. Nathan Stedman C.C.C.

State of North Carolina } This day Andrew Diddy Chatham County } aged eighty six years of age personally appears before me George Luther an acting Justice of the peace in and for the County, who being first duly sworn according to Law upon his oath against and saith that he was acquainted with Joshua Elkins during the revolutionary war and he further saith that he hired Joshua Elkins to serve on him in the militia for him in the year nineteen hundred and eighty one and that the said Elkins served three months for him under Captain Benjamin Blake and he further saith that he has knowledge of Joshua Elkins having served one other term of three months as a substitute for one of his brothers named William Elkins Elkins as well as he can now recollect and thinks he served under Capt John Hadley And further the deponent saith not sworn to and subscribed before me this 24 th day of January 1843
I certify that Andrew Diddy is a credible witness
Geo Luther J.P.
Subscribed to me this day

221.768
Three FREE
Hon J. Minot
Department of the Interior Pension Office Washington D.C.

36639
S Stearns

5799 N.C.
let to. Geo. Luchow April 19 th 1843.
act 4 July 36

MRS. CARROLL SCARBOROUGH 1343 PEACOCK AVENUE COLUMBUS, GEORGIA
The Bureau of Pensions Washington D.C. Dear Sir,
Will you be so kind as to write me if there were any Elkins from North Carolina, who received Revolutionary War pensions and if so please what counties they were from. I am doing some family research and am looking for the record of my great grand father whose given name I have forgotten. I shall be very grateful if you can help me Sincerely yours (Mrs) Carroll S. Scarborough. 274

1938 Nov. 3 - leish to mrs. Carroll Dean - borough aug
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 17755-
Martha Elkins Widow of John Elkins Corp. Rev. War
Act: July 2 nd 1836
Index: - Vol. 4 , Page 215-
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Aug 28 43
Northumberland City 23rd August 43 } Free
Mr. Garrison Martha Eliza Sally M. Eliza
Jamies L Edwards Commissioner of Customs War Department Washington City

Marthas Vineyard Dukes County N.Y. 23 August 43
Sir on the 5 th July ult I sent on a Copy Certified by the Clerk of the Inferior Court of Sachem Settlement Elkins which I understood from your Letter of the 19 th April was all that was required to complete the record in his case - I also sent the Declaration of Sally Mc Bone with all the record that could at that time be had - I was aware at that time that from various circumstances - nearly all the officers and the various Departments had to be reorganized which would necessarily cause some delay - I hope however that the Department has by this time examined and determined them the old women are very old and poor and therefore extremely anxious to hear from their heirs. If favorably decided I hope you will forward me their Certificates as soon as possible - I am satisfied that Marriages are more difficult to prove in this State than in many others - in the first place the State or Counties have been divided and subdivided since the Revolution that in many cases. It is not known in which County to seek and many of the officers have been so carelessly managed that all the old papers, are destroyed in others all the old papers of every description are promiscuously thrown into Boxes Barrels or Trunks that it is impossible to find any particular one - and many more

- says have been solemnized by clergymen legally authorized to do so without license where there was no record kept of it - and that few in their homes were capable of keeping a family record for themselves I hope it will be convenient for you to give me the result of those two cases at an early day I am Respectfully yours &
Honorable
G. A. Luther
James L. Edwards } Commissioner of Pensions }

State of North Carolina } This day Thomas Hensley Chatham County } aged fifty five years old personally appeared before the Subscriber an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County - who after being sworn according to Law upon his oath deponeth and sayeth as far as follows (to wit) That he married the Daughter of Joshua & Martha Elkins the present Applicant for a pension. That Martha Elkins is the Identical person she represents herself to be in her declaration. The widow of Joshua Elkins a Soldier of the Revolution - This deponent further sayeth that he was raised in the same neighborhood with them and know them from his youth - he further sayeth that he could not have any personal knowledge of the services rendered by Joshua Elkins during the war of the Revolution that he was not then in existence that all he does know is from circumstances and facts that have since come to his knowledge. he further sayeth that he is informed and believes that Joshua Elkins the husband of the present Applicant enlisted and entered into the service in the Continental Line and served something over Two years. This he has frequently heard from Joshua Elkins himself in his life time and from other respectable persons. And this deponent further sayeth that he has heard Joshua Joshua Elkins say that his health became so bad that he was considered unfit for service that he got a certificate for his services and was discharged on furlough and come home and was not called into the regular service any more during the war - This deponent further sayeth that he has seen the said furlough in Joshua Elkins possession in his life time and that he has frequently heard him Elkins say that he received the full amount of his certificate for his services in gold and this deponent further sayeth that he has been frequently informed by Joshua Joshua Elkins and many others that after said Elkins returned from the regular service and got his health restored and after he was married that he served as a substitute in the Militia - one tour of three months for Andrew Ridg one tour of three months for his Brother William Elkins and one tour of three months for Moses Hinko and that he served one tour of three months as a drafted man - and he further sayeth that he has frequently heard Joshua Elkins

and his wife say that the reason that he so often went into the series as a substitute - was that when he was at home he was forced to lay out in the woods or otherwise conceal himself to keep out of the hands of the Tories - That his house was frequently surrounded and the strictest search made for him by the Tories - This deponent further saith that in the latter part of the year eighteen hundred and nineteen Joshua Elkins who was at that time quite old and feeble and a very poor man came to this deponent and requested his assistance to go with him Elkins to establish his claim to a pension, and this deponent being ignorant on the subject went the Mr Elkins to Mr Thomas Hill who was the nearest lawyer for counsel That Mr Elkins stated his case to Mr Hill in the presence of this deponent That Mr Hill informed him Elkins that his was a good claim and agreed to undertake his case as soon as he collected his proof and this deponent further saith that Captain Joseph Johnson was the only witness then that lived near him that he had served with in the regular army that this deponent went with Elkins to Johnson and got him to go before Francis Drake Esq and make an affidavit - That it was then winter time and the old man unable to travel and was unable to employ any person who understood any about the business - and that the old man continued unable to prosecute his claim any further until his death which happened on the twenty second day of June eighteen hundred and twenty one when he was killed at his fireside by a blast of thunder and further this deponent saith that sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of January 1843
I certify that Thomas Hensley who to Thomas Hensley has sworn to and subscribed to the foregoing deposition is a credible witness.
Test R. Garrett